My Newest Job Update -- IT TRAINER
Wow, what an adventure this year has been for me. I've morphed from call center representative to now having my own business as an IT trainer. I've posted updates of various offers from time to time on this forum.
Anyway, to update everyone. I was originally going to take a job as a government contractor when the Federal government overruled my government contracting company on my position because I didn't have an IT degree. I was, suddenly, without a job and needing a new one. I posted my resume on dice and Monster, and within 4 days, I had 3 interviews.
I ended up having a Microsoft Gold Certified Learning Partner tell me that they wanted to hire me, but they didn't have the money to do it. However, they offered to bring me on as a contractor, and told me that they would sponsor me for the Microsoft Certified Trainer because they were impressed with my certifications.
I decided to take the job, and I'm so glad that I did. Within a short while, I've been introduced to the trainer industry. First, you get some pretty sweet benefits as a trainer -- all e-learning courses are free, Microsoft Official Curriculum is free, and virtual Labs are free.
Second, the life of a trainer is one of high independence. Most trainers charge a daily rate and as long as you keep your certifications current, you are inundated with work.
Right now, I charge $500 a day for work, which some people are telling me is too low, but I don't mind. I make more than I've ever made in my life and I only work 3 weeks out of the month.
You get a chance to do a lot of travelling. I recently contacted a company about going to Europe in a couple of months, and I'm trying to work out a deal with them.
Training itself is fairly rigorous for a Microsoft Certified Trainer. You are rated on a metric of 1-9. As a trainer, you have to average an 8/9 by the people that you train or risk not being retained by the contracting company.
Furthermore, Microsoft Certified Trainers are expensive. People have to pay a lot of money for the trainers, and they expect the best. Companies often send their best and brightest to get trained. I trained Vista just recently. I had a room full of 8 guys ask me everything under the sun on that operating system. I spent 3 or 4 days getting 4 hours of sleep because I was up late at night researching their questions, but I loved it.
Anyway, I thought that I would introduce this career to anyone considering it. It's a nice way to make a living, and the field is booming right now.
Let me know if there are any questions that I can answer about it. [/i]
